Mannequin head container for use in makeup practice and storage of cosmetic tools

ABSTRACT

The present invention is in the technical field of cosmetology. More specifically, the present invention is utilized in the application of eyelash extension and storage of the tools used in the application of eyelash extensions. The mannequin head provides students of cosmetology a practical device to practice and perfect the technique of their craft. Existing mannequin heads do not provide the angle or consistency of the eyelid that is necessary for students to apply eyelashes in a manner that is realistic to that of applying an eyelash directly to a human eyelid. Further, the application of eyelash extensions requires numerous tools, and the present invention allows for easy storage and access to these tools.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/698,694 filed on Sep. 9, 2012, the entirety of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the study of cosmetology andspecifically is an aid for the application of cosmetics and for thestorage of cosmetic tools.

Mannequin heads for practice purposes are known. Aids have been used toteach cosmetology in the past and are necessary in order to allowstudents to practice their craft prior to implementing their talents onactual human faces.

There is a significant problem with such cosmetic aids because they donot allow for storage of makeup and related tools, leaving open thepossibility that users will misplace items or have to carry themannequin and the tools separately, creating an unnecessary nuisance.

There is also a significant problem with mannequin heads for cosmeticpractice as they relate to eyelash cosmetology, in that artificialeyelashes are generally simulated by a single strip of eyelashes, ratherthan by multiple rows of eyelashes. Since human eyelashes grow naturallyin multiple rows, prior art fails to provide a fully accurate simulationfor an esthetician or cosmetologist in-training.

Thus, a need exists for improvements in the design of the mannequins,especially for practical storage purposes, and more accurate simulationsof the eyelash features of the human face. The integration of a storagearea inside the mannequin head cures those deficiencies and allows usersof the invention the practical advantage of having a mannequin withwhich they may practice and store all tools necessary for successfulcosmetological learning. The inclusion in the mannequin head system ofattachable eyelash strips that accurately simulate multiple rows oflashes further improves on the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a mannequin head, witha hollow inside that acts as a storage container, for use in theapplication of eyelash extensions with removable sponges shaped likeeyelids that resemble the human eyelid for a more practical andauthentic extension application practice tool for cosmetology students.

A more specific objective of the invention is to overcome the difficultythat eyelash extension students have in practicing the application ofeyelashes to a mannequin.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mannequin head withstorage space for the various tools that are used in make-up practice asit relates to the application of eyelash extensions.

The prior art generally fails to provide the appropriate angle that ahuman head would be positioned in when eyelash extensions are applied.Additionally, the prior art generally fails to provide the correct shapeor consistency that the lid of a human eyelash would have in terms ofapplying a lash to a lid. Furthermore, the prior art fails to includeremovable artificial eyelashes to practice the accurate application ofeyelash extensions. Finally, the prior art fails to include removableartificial eyelashes that are arranged in multiple rows accuratelysimulated the natural growth of human eyelashes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective of a preferred embodiment of the mannequinhead fully-assembled, with the top face section and bottom base portionof the mannequin head container fit together;

FIG. 2 is the side perspective of the eyelid patch attached to the topof the eye cavity of the facial configuration portion of the mannequinhead, with eyelash strip attached to the eyelid patch;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of themannequin head completely assembled, with the facial configurationportion and back surface portion of the mannequin head container fittogether, and showing the eyelid patches and eyelash strips attached tothe mannequin head.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective of a preferred embodiment of the mannequinhead showing how the back surface portion and face portion fit together;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective of the back surface portion of themannequin head container, which in its preferred embodiment includes araised keeper to hold a compact disc in place, and is a kit that holds acompact disc and notebook.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective of the back surface portion of themannequin head container, which in its preferred embodiment is a kitthat holds a notebook on top of a compact disc.

FIG. 7 is a front and a side perspective of the eyelid patch and eyelashstrip assembly, showing how lower and upper configurations of theeyelash strip may be attached to the eyelid patch, and showing how theeyelid patch may be folded and unfolded to approximate the size andshape of both an open and closed human eyelid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, the mannequin head container approximates thesize and shape of a human female head, including an oval human facialconfiguration whose shape resembles that of a human female, and which ismade of plastic or other similarly rigid material. In one embodiment theplastic mannequin head is of a color and shade of that of human skin.

In further detail, as shown in FIG. 1, the mannequin head container alsoincludes a back surface portion that has a moderate depth ofapproximately one inch. The back surface portion includes a protrusionportion, shown be reference number 25, protruding a sufficient distanceof approximately one-half inch from the base that would allow the entiremannequin unit to sit angularly upward when said back surface portion isset on a horizontal surface.

Referring now to FIG. 2, said mannequin head includes a top portion,shown by reference number 10, and said back surface portion, showing byreference number 20, which are selectively attachable and detachablefrom one another. An eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, shown byreference number 15, may be affixed by an adhesive to said mannequinhead on or around the eye cavity of said facial configuration portion.Said eyelid patch may be made of latex or other sufficiently comprisedlatex free materials. The components of the eyelash strips may be madeof synthetic eyelash materials, fabric, or other sufficiently flexiblematerials.

Still referring to FIG. 2, said mannequin head container includes saidback surface portion that may be made of plastic or any of othersufficiently rigid and strong materials. Said protrusion shown byreference number 25 comprises part of said back surface portion.

Still referring to FIG. 2, an eyebrow piece, shown by reference number30, may be attached to said facial configuration to more accuratelysimulate a human female face.

Referring now to FIG. 3, said eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly,shown by reference number 15, may be attached to said facialconfiguration portion of said mannequin head. An eyebrow piece ofvarious shapes and sizes approximating different styles of humaneyebrows, shown by reference number 30, may be attached to said facialconfiguration portion of said mannequin head.

Referring now to FIG. 4, said mannequin head and said back surfaceportion of the mannequin fit together, where in the preferred embodimentsaid mannequin head has a rim slightly larger in width than the width ofthe back surface portion, allowing the mannequin head and back surfaceportion to snap together.

The construction details of the invention as shown in FIG. 4 are thatthe inside of said mannequin head is a hollow cavity, and that removalof said back surface portion from said mannequin head allows access tosaid hollow cavity, where in the preferred embodiment items comprising acosmetic kit, including cosmetic tools and products, may be placed andstored.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the bottom base portion of the mannequin headcontainer has the properties as described in FIGS. 1 and 2, themannequin head contains a back surface portion that has a depth thatwould lay flat horizontally on a surface. The inside portion of the backsurface portion has a raised keeper to hold a compact disc, shown byreference number 40, in place. In the preferred embodiment a notebook,shown by reference number 50, may be placed over the compact disc andstored within the mannequin head.

In broad embodiment, the present invention is a mannequin head thatserves as both a practice head for the application of make-up and thestorage of cosmetology tools.

Referring now to FIG. 6, in the preferred embodiment said mannequin headhas a back surface portion, the inside of which may contain a notebookwhich, when said back surface portion is attached to said mannequinhead, said notebook will be enclosed and stored.

Referring now to FIG. 7, said eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly,shown by reference number 15, may be attached to one another. Saideyelid patch and said eyelash strips are selectively detachable. Saideyelash strip may be configured as an upper eyelash strip, shown byreference number 15 a, or a lower eyelash strip, shown by referencenumber 15 b. Said eyelash strips may be directly affixed to the top andbottom of said eyelid patch, shown by reference number 15 c. A sideperspective of the eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly, fullyassembled, is shown by reference number 15 d.

In the preferred embodiment, said eyelid patch may be folded in half,simulating a closed eyelid, as shown by reference number 15 e. The fullyassembled, bifolded eyelid patch and eyelash strip assembly is shown byreference number 15 f.

Said eyelash strip is comprised of a strip of material and multiplesingle rows of synthetic eyelashes. The multiple rows of eyelashes, asshown in side perspective by reference number 15 d, and in frontperspective by reference numbers 15 a and 15 b, approximate the size andshape that eyelashes grow on a human eyelid.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand andappreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents ofthe specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The inventionshould therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment,method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within thescope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed:
 1. A cosmetology teaching, training and practice systemcomprising: a rigid, hollow mannequin head having the approximate sizeand shape of a human female head; an oval symmetrical facialconfiguration having the approximate size and shape of a human femaleface; a flat back surface portion; and a storage container within saidmannequin head for the purpose of storing cosmetology tools.
 2. Thesystem according to claim 1 in which said back surface has an outer sideand an inner side, the outer side having a protrusion portion integraltherewith at an end portion thereof whereby upon disposition with saidbase portion surface positioned horizontally, the mannequin head assumesan attitude with the facial configuration thereof directed angularlyupward.
 3. The system according to claim 1 in which said back surfaceportion is separately detachable from said mannequin head, said backsurface portion engaging an outer surface of a rim of said mannequinhead, said back surface portion having a breadth substantially equal tosaid rim, and said back surface portion being self-adherent to saidmannequin head and selectively removable therefrom.
 4. The systemaccording to claim 1 in which said storage container includes eyebrowpieces, said eyebrow pieces being made of fabric of similarly flexiblematerial and having a size and shape approximate to that of a humaneyebrow.
 5. The system according to claim 1 in which said eyebrow pieceshave a plurality of shapes and sizes, said plurality of shapes and sizescorresponding to, and approximating, the various shapes and sizes ofhuman eyebrows.
 6. The system according to claim 1 in which said storagecontainer includes eyelid patches, said eyelid patches being made offlexible, moldable latex or similarly sufficient material and having asize and shape approximate to that of a human eyelid.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 6 in which said eyelid patches are capable of beingalternately molded to the approximate size and shape of an upper humaneyelid and a lower human eyelid.
 8. The system according to claim 6 inwhich said eyelids have an adhesive backing and are adherent andselectively removable from said facial configuration of said mannequinhead.
 9. The system according to claim 8 in which said eyelid patcheswhen adhered to said facial configuration of said mannequin head arecapable of being folded in half thereby alternately approximating bothclosed human eyelids and open human eyelids.
 10. The system according toclaim 6 in which said storage container also contains one or more stripsof eyelashes, each said strip of eyelashes comprising a strip offlexible material and a plurality of lashes attached to said strip, saidplurality of lashes being made of flexible material and approximatingthe size and shape of human eyelashes.
 11. The system according to claim10 in which said strips of eyelashes approximate the size and shape ofhuman lashes on a human upper eyelid.
 12. The system according to claim10 in which said strips of eyelashes approximate the size and shape ofhuman lashes on a human lower eyelid.
 13. The system according to claim10 in which said strip of eyelashes is attachable and selectivelyremovable from said eyelid patch.
 14. The system according to claim 10where said plurality of lashes are arranged on said strip in a pluralityof rows in a manner so as to approximate the multiple rows of eyelashesinherent in the natural growth of human eyelashes on a human eyelid. 15.The system according to claim 10 in which said inner side has a keeperraised from a center portion for holding down an individual compactdisk.
 16. A cosmetology mannequin head kit comprising: a rigid, hollowmannequin head having the approximate size and shape of a human femalehead; an oval symmetrical facial configuration having the approximatesize and shape of a human female face; a detachable flat back surfaceportion; a storage container within said mannequin, head for the purposeof storing cosmetology tools; plural eyelid patches made of flexible,moldable latex or similarly sufficient material; plural eyebrow piecesmade of fabric or other sufficiently flexible material and of pluralsizes and shapes approximating the various sizes and shapes of humaneyebrows; plural strips of upper eyelashes capable of being attached tosaid eyelid patches and comprising a strip of flexible material and aplurality of lashes attached to said strip, said plurality of lashesbeing made of flexible material and approximating the size and shape ofhuman upper eyelashes; and, plural strips of lower eyelashes capable ofbeing attached to said eyelid patches comprising a strip of flexiblematerial and a plurality of lashes attached to said strip, saidplurality of lashes being made of flexible material and approximatingthe size and shape of human lower eyelashes.
 17. The cosmetologymannequin head kit according to claim 16 in which said plurality oflashes of said upper eyelashes are arranged on said strip in a pluralityof rows in a manner so as to approximate the multiple rows of eyelashesinherent in the natural growth of human eyelashes on a upper humaneyelid.
 18. The cosmetology mannequin head kit according to claim 16 inwhich said plurality of lashes of said lower eyelashes are arranged onsaid strip in a plurality of rows in a manner so as to approximate themultiple rows of eyelashes inherent in the natural growth of humaneyelashes on a upper human eyelid.
 19. The cosmetology mannequin headkit according to claim 16 including portable carrier means for holdingand transporting the components of said cosmetology mannequin head kitwithin said storage container, in order to transport said cosmetologymannequin head kit as a unit.
 20. The cosmetology mannequin head kitaccording to claim 16 where said back surface has an outer side and aninner side, the outer side having a protrusion portion integraltherewith at an end portion thereof whereby upon disposition with saidbase portion surface positioned horizontally, the mannequin head assumesan attitude with the facial configuration thereof directed angularlyupward.
 21. The cosmetology mannequin head kit according to claim 16 inwhich said detachable back surface portion is separately detachable fromsaid mannequin head in a manner such that said back surface portionengages an outer surface of a rim of said mannequin head, said backsurface portion having a breadth substantially equal to said rim, andsaid back surface portion being self-adherent to said mannequin head andselectively removable therefrom.
 22. The cosmetology mannequin head kitaccording to claim 16 in which said eyelid patches are capable of beingalternately molded to the approximate size and shape of an upper humaneyelid and a lower human eyelid.
 23. The cosmetology mannequin head kitaccording to claim 16 in which said eyelid patches have an adhesivebacking and are adherent and selectively removable from said facialconfiguration of said mannequin head.
 24. The cosmetology mannequin headkit according to claim 16 in which said eyelid patches when adhered tosaid facial configuration of said mannequin head are capable of beingfolded in half thereby alternately approximating both closed humaneyelids and open human eyelids.
 25. The cosmetology mannequin head kitaccording to claim 20 in which said inner side has a keeper raised froma center portion for holding down an individual compact disk.
 26. Thecosmetology mannequin head kit according to claim 16 including anotebook.